Stories from Friday, November 20, 2009

Cherokee School District rescinds Early Retirement incentive package(11/20/09)The Cherokee School District's Licensed Employee Voluntary Early Retirement package became the victim of the State's recent 10-percent across-the-board budget cut after a 4-1 vote by the Cherokee Board of Education at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday night...

He's been workin' on the railroad ...(11/20/09)The Cherokee Depot was vacated by the railroad in 1982 and the Cherokee District was gradually phased out. Tom Jarratt, who grew up in Cherokee, is the only employee hired out of the Cherokee Depot who is still employed by the railroad. Hired in July of 1979 as a brakeman, Jarratt became a conductor/brakeman in the early 1980s, and reached his 30-year anniversary working for the railroad last July...

4-H groups show thanks(11/20/09)Recently three Cherokee County 4-H Clubs - the Cavaliers, Sheridan Stars, and the Stockmen's Club, got together at the local elevators in the county and grilled lunch for area farmers, as a 'thank you'to them for donating to the 4-H Facilities Betterment Project. Photos contributed.

DMACC Winter Concert(11/20/09)Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Ankeny Campus student Whitney Axiotis of Larrabee will perform in the DMACC Winter Concert I 2009-10 to be held at 7:30 p.m., Sat., Dec. 5 in the Bldg. #6 Auditorium on the DMACC Ankeny Campus. DMACC's Concert Choir, Chamber Ensemble and volunteer ensembles will perform at the free concert. Following the concert, the audience is invited to a reception in Bldg. #5 on the Ankeny Campus...

Supervisors discuss insurance for RAGBRAI(11/20/09)Scott Weber of Central Insurance Agency in Cherokee addressed the Cherokee County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday and issued a report on the County's insurance requirements if RAGBRI would come through the county next year. Weber reported that he has spoken with a representative of the Iowa Community Assurance Pool (ICAP) and they replied back to Weber that they had no issue with RAGBRAI coming through Cherokee County...

Times Gone By(11/20/09)There was an exhibition Monday on Main St., of bull dog grit and senseless rage and stubbornness, when the bull terriers of Noonan and Hitchcock measured forces. One of the dogs seized the other by the mouth and held on like grim death. Everything that could be done in the way of pounding and pulling only fastened the fangs into a firmer grip until sticks were thrust into the jaws of each and thus forced open. ...

Dorothy M. Heath(11/20/09)Dorothy M. Heath, age 96, of Storm Lake, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake. Memorial service was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18 at the United Methodist Church in Storm Lake. Inurnment was in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery. There was no visitation. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake was in charge of the arrangements. Those wishing to send on-line condolences may do so via www.fratzkejensen.com...

Elena Mathahs(11/20/09)Elena Mathahs, age 3, of Thompson, died on Tuesday at Mercy Medical Center of North Iowa in Mason City. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Bethany Lutheran Church in Thompson with Reverend Mark Decker officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Thompson...

Basic Biittner : The Names Behind ...(11/20/09)The word "eponym," according to the dictionary, is a noun meaning "a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, etc., is named or thought to be named." I bring this up because one of my personal "quirks" is that when I see someone's name as part of a product, or institution, or a phrase, I am curious about the "name behind" said product, etc...

Uh, the eyeware is catchy...(11/20/09)Between what is fast becoming chronic eye blinking, we marvel at the extent of popularity many in this country continue to bestow on former Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin. What a joke if it weren't for the very sad commentary it makes regarding many Americans' taste in contrived celebrities repeatedly and forever exposed as all hat and no cattle...

Holiday jobs in short supply(11/20/09)Americans hoping to make extra money to pay bills or buy presents this holiday season better start looking for their holiday job now. The number of jobs available will be less than last year -- and more people are expected to be vying for them -- according to a recent survey...